Wang Shu lowered her head and chatted with the system in her mind.
"Make my face look ugly later, and make the marks on my knees look worse."
She can act, but there are some physiological reactions that she may not be able to express without external help. A slightly pale complexion is fine, but she can't make it too pale.
System: "Understood, the emperor is almost here."
Wang Shu: "Okay, I'll think about it."
When Kangxi arrived, he saw Wangshu's face was deathly pale, and she looked like a willow in summer, as if a gust of wind could blow her away.
Caiju saw Kangxi immediately. As a first-class palace maid serving Consort Nara, she naturally recognized Kangxi.
Her face immediately paled, a hint of guilt flashing in her eyes. She knew whether she had wronged anyone, and besides, this little palace maid was exceptionally beautiful. If the Emperor took a liking to her, both she and her mistress would be in dire straits.
"Greetings, Your Majesty. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace." Caiju's voice sounded normal at first glance, but upon closer listening, one could detect a tremor.
She was scared.
Wang Shu and Xiao Chengzi, who were almost fainting from the scorching sun, looked over when they heard the sound.
Wang Shu's expression was complex, a mixture of surprise, grievance, and dependence...
Her eyes widened: "The Emperor?!"
Kangxi ignored Caiju, who was still bowing, and walked over to Wangshu, helping her up: "What, is it not allowed?"
Wang Shu shook her head mechanically and absentmindedly, then lowered her head: "No, this servant dares not."
Emperor Kangxi sighed, knowing that his identity had been exposed and that the two should become estranged.
He looked at Caiju: "Liang Jiugong, make arrangements to send this person back to the Imperial Household Department so he can relearn the rules. He doesn't need to go back to serve Consort Nara anymore. Go to the Imperial Hospital and invite a physician to the Qianqing Palace."
The head maids around the concubines were almost all from the bondservant families of the Upper Three Banners. Caiju was innocent, and Kangxi naturally knew this, so he didn't take her life. He sent her back to the Imperial Household Department, which was enough to make her suffer and also to teach Consort Nara a lesson.
If children aren't raised properly, they'll definitely become mentally challenged.
Liang Jiugong: "Yes."
Kangxi looked at Wangshu: "Come with me to the Qianqing Palace."
"Your Majesty?! This servant..."
Thinking back to her past "unrestrained remarks" in front of Emperor Kangxi, Wangshu belatedly realized how embarrassing it was and blushed deeply.
Kangxi: "No need for further words, come with me to the Qianqing Palace first."
Wang Shu murmured softly, "Yes, Your Majesty."
Looking at her slightly flushed face, even without makeup, she was still stunningly beautiful, even under the scorching sun.
Kangxi took the dazed palace maid he had rescued to the Qianqing Palace, leaving Liang Jiugong to handle the aftermath.
When they arrived at the Qianqing Palace, the imperial physicians were already there.
"Doctor Xia, please take a look at her."
Physician Xia was one of Emperor Kangxi's personal physicians.
After a while, Physician Xia said, "This young lady has suffered from heatstroke. She needs to drink some medicine to relieve the heat. As for the young lady's leg, it is a superficial injury. I will prescribe some medicine to reduce swelling and bruising. She should recover in about half a month."
"Go and write the prescription!"
"Yes, Your Majesty, I shall take my leave."
After Physician Xia left, only the two of them remained in the room: Wang Shu was still sitting, and Kangxi was still standing—a very strange scene.
Wang Shu looked up at him and timidly asked, "Your Majesty?"
Kangxi approached, sat down beside her, then lifted her leg, rolled up her trouser leg, and saw two red and swollen patches on her knees, which looked particularly shocking on her porcelain-white, long and straight legs.
Does it hurt?
Kangxi's tone was gentle and caring. Wangshu couldn't hold back her tears any longer, and she choked out, "It hurts~"
Upon hearing this, Emperor Kangxi felt even more distressed.
Kangxi hugged the person tightly: "It's my fault, I'm late."
Wang Shu shook her head sullenly: "It's not your fault, how could I blame you? It's my fault, I don't know how I offended Consort Nara."
Emperor Kangxi sighed, "You're not wrong. It's Consort Nara who has a bad temper and no manners."
Upon hearing this, Wangshu looked up from his arms, her watery eyes gazing at him with admiration and dependence, which warmed Kangxi's heart.
"Wang Shu, don't look at me like that."
Wang Shu looked puzzled, tilting her head slightly with a confused expression.
So adorable! Kangxi couldn't resist kissing her eyes. Wangshu blushed and buried her face in his chest.
Oh, even cuter now.
"What are you hiding from?" Kangxi said, his hand caressing her delicate earlobe.
Wang Shu's muffled voice came from his arms: "How could you be the Emperor?!"
"Isn't it good that I am the Emperor?"
Wang Shu: "I don't know either. I just feel weird. I'm a little happy, but also a little depressed. Will we not be able to be friends anymore?"
Kangxi: "Then you can become my concubine. Didn't you say you planned to serve the Emperor in the future?"
Wang Shu: "It's not what I imagined!"
Kangxi understood; she was probably feeling somewhat uncomfortable with the change in her status.
"I know you're a little fool, not very smart, but I will protect you."
After a long pause, Wang Shu spoke again: "When you helped me up in the Imperial Garden just now, my heart was beating very fast, and it's still beating very fast now. Am I sick?"
Kangxi raised an eyebrow: "Your heart is beating very fast?"
Wang Shu's tone was innocent yet undeniably alluring: "Yes, it feels like it's about to jump out!"
Kangxi was indeed tempted, and he said with a wicked grin, "Let me hear if it's true."
Having said that, Kangxi immediately put his words into action and began to listen to the young palace maid's heartbeat.
Wang Shu's heartbeat lived up to the system's capabilities, pounding rapidly with a rapid, thumping sound more beautiful than any music he had ever heard.
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